Final Feb 2020 V17 Curve File.Cdr
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
25/- VOLUME 12 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY 2020 24th PHYSICS NEWS Scientists accurately measure the probability of electron capture by the neon-20 isotope nuclei for the first time A large international team of researchers has empirically measured the probability of electron capture by the neon-20 isotope (20Ne) for the first time. The team has published two papers in the journal Physical Review C describing their achievement and explaining how their experiments pertain to the decay of intermediate-sized stars. Prior research has shown that at the end of their life, small stars form white dwarfs before dropping their outer layers. And large stars end with a supernova burst, resulting in the formation of a neutron star or black hole. How intermediate stars die has not been so well defined. Prior research has also shown that one of the defining factors that determines which way an intermediate star will die is the rate of electron capture by 20Ne and, as a result, the rate at which fluorine-20 (20F) appears. But until now, the probability of transition by such nuclei had not been accurately measured in a laboratory experiment. In this new effort, the researchers have done just that. The experiments were carried out at the JYFL Accelerator Laboratory in Finland. There, the researchers bombarded a carbon foil with 20F nuclei, forcing them to become embedded in the foil—they then measured the radioactive decay. Next, they calculated the probability of a transition. They report that they found 0.00041 percent of 20F nuclei decayed to 20Ne0+. Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2020-01-scientists-accurately-probability-electron-capture.html Original paper : Physical Review Letters (2019). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.262701 Spider-Man-style robotic graspers defy gravity Specially designed vacuum suction units allow humans to climb walls. Scientists have developed a suction unit that can be used on rough surfaces, no matter how textured, and that has applications in the development of climbing robots and robotic arms with grasping capabilities. Researchers Xin Li and Kaige Shi developed a zero-pressure difference (ZPD) method to enhance the development of vacuum suction units. Their method overcame leakage limitations by using a high-speed rotating water ring between the surface and suction cup to maintain the vacuum. "There are many applications of our design, but we think the wall-climbing robot will be the most useful," said Li. "Compared to other wall-climbing robots, the robot with our ZPD-based suction unit achieves surprising improvement in performance". The centrifugal force of the rotating water eliminates the pressure difference at the boundary of the vacuum zone to prevent vacuum leakage. It can maintain a high vacuum pressure inside the suction cup. Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2020-01-spider-man-style-robotic-graspers-defy-gravity.html Original paper: Physics of Fluids (2020). DOI: 10.1063/1.5129958 AlphaZero learns to rule the quantum world The chess world was amazed when the computer algorithm AlphaZero learned, after just four hours on its own, to beat the best chess programs built on human expertise. Now a research group at Aarhus University in Denmark has used the very same algorithm to control a quantum computer. This research group under the direction of Professor Jacob Sherson has just used the computer algorithm AlphaZero to learn to control a quantum system.The research group at Aarhus University has, via computer simulations, demonstrated the broad applicability by applying AlphaZero on three different control problems that could each potentially be used in a quantum computer. The team was very impressed with AlphaZero's ability to learn, as the lead Ph.D. student Mogens Dalgaard described: "When we analyzed the data from AlphaZero we saw that the algorithm had learned to exploit an underlying symmetry of the problem that we did not originally consider. That was an amazing experience. '' Read more at:https://phys.org/news/2020-01-alphazero-quantum-world.html Original paper: Quantum Information (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41534-019-0241-0 Sandeep Kaur Department of Physics Panjab University, Chandigarh IAPT Bulletin, February 2020 26 BULLETIN OF INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICS TEACHERS (ISSN 2277-8950) H.C. Verma awarded Padma Shri CHIEF EDITOR: U.S. Kushwaha, Chandigarh EDITOR: Manjit Kaur, Chandigarh Congratulations to Professor H.C. ASSTT. EDITOR: Arvind K. Taneja, Chandigarh Verma, Vice-President of IAPT and EDITORIAL BOARD: l L. Satpathy, Bubhaneswar former Professor of IIT, Kanpur on l H.C. Verma, Kanpur being honoured with Padma Shri Award l Pratip Kumar Chaudhari, Kolkata l Vijay A. Singh, Mumbai for his contribution to Physics ADVISORY BOARD: Education. It is truly a great accolade for l Satya Prakash, Chandigarh l Y.R. Waghmare, Pune a dedicated teacher. Our IAPT and the entire MANAGING EDITOR: fraternity of Physics teachers in India has a reason to Sanjay Kr. Sharma be excited and happy at this honour being conferred Flat No. 206, Adarsh Complex, Awas Vikas-1 Keshavpuram, on him. IAPT is proud of having him as the Vice Kalyanpur, Kanpur-208017 Ph.: 9415404969 Email: [email protected] President. All communication regarding the contents of the Bulletin Guidelines for the contributors should be addressed to: The IAPT Bulletin recommends for publication: Chief Editor (IAPT Bulletin) Indian Association of Physics Teachers • Articles, reviews and short notes on subject matter related to physics content and physics Dept. of Physics, P.U., Chandigarh - 160014 Email: [email protected] teaching at secondary, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The write-up must offer some Ph.: 7696515596 (USK), 9464683959 (MK) new insight into the topic under discussion. Mere reproduction of information available on the internet be avoided. The Bulletin is the official organ of the IAPT. It is a monthly journal devoted to upgrading physics education at all levels • Letters and comments on matter published in the Bulletin. through dissemination of didactical information on physics and related areas. Further, the Bulletin also highlights • Reports, news and announcements about important physics related IAPT activities/events in the information about the activities of IAPT. country. INDIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICS TEACHERS Articles, reviews and short notes REGISTERED OFFICE: • Research papers in specialised fields of mainstream physics may not be sent. Research Indian Association of Physics Teachers journals catering to specific areas of physics al ready exist. However, reviews of recent Flat No. 206, Adarsh Complex, developments in various fields are welcome. Awas Vikas-1 Keshavpuram, All the matter should be sent by email to [email protected]. Acknowledgement via email will Kalyanpur, Kanpur-208017 • Ph.: 09935432990 l Email: [email protected] normally be sent within 10 days. Submissions received via post without soft copy may be EXAMINATION OFFICE: considered provision ally, but if accepted for publication then soft copy must be provided. Indian Association of Physics Teachers Authors should retain a copy of their write -up, rejected articles will not be sent back. 15, Block II, Rispana Road, Contributors should give their contact number as well. DBS (PG) College, Chowk Dehradun - 248001 (Uttarakhand) • The length of the write-up should not, ordinarily, exceed 6 pages of the Bulletin, including Ph.: 9632221945 diagrams, photographs, tab les, etc. Email: [email protected], http://www.iapt.org.in • All matter received for publication is subject to refereeing. The editors res erve the right to PRESIDENT: abridge/alter the write-up for the sake of clarity and brevity. Vijay A. Singh UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences IAPT activity reports Vidyanagri Campus, Mumbai University Santa Cruz (East), Mumbai 400098 The report must contain the following: Ph. : 022-26530228 Organising institute along with collaborators, if any Email : [email protected] • Name of the activity • Sponsors, if any (IAPT, RC or any other funding agency) GENERAL SECRETARY: • Date/duration • K. N. Joshipura • Venue of the activity • Summary of the activity 4, Punit Park, Anand-Vidyanagar Road, Anand-388001 Ph. : 02692-245042; 09825318897 • Name of the coordinator/convener/organiser along with address, email and mobile number E-mail ; [email protected] Maximum two photographs, if available, may be sent separately via email, preferably of the activity or CHIEF COORDINATOR (EXAMS): audience. B. P. Tyagi 23, Adarsh Vihar, Raipur Road, Dehradun - 248 001 Ph. : +91 1352787020, 9837123716 E-mail : [email protected] http://www.indapt.org IAPT Bulletin, February 2020 27 From the President's desk... We should celebrate success and acknowledge hard work. My January good wishes to IAPT fraternity also carried with it a lament that there is low participation in several of our all-India initiatives. This invited a number of comments from readers that I have ignored the many emphatically positive achievements of IAPT. At the very least these comments signal the fact that people are indeed reading the Bulletin so the complaint which our editor Prof. Kushwaha had in this matter, will now be a trifle less acute. The participation in NAEST and NANI has grown several folds over the last decade. It now numbers in the tens of thousands. The Anveshikas are vibrant centers with a large number of teachers participating in discussions on physics and scientific topics as well as in grooming the next generation. The NGPE exams have likewise seen a remarkable rise in participation and number close to ten thousand. Every year it has been followed with further training of selected UG students in camps. I recently returned from the camp at BITS Goa and it was an exhilarating experience. Not to forget the National Student Symposium (NSSP) organized annually in Chandigarh for the last several years and which has seen enthusiastic participation by students nationally. These two are in the crucial undergraduate sector. Besides, as reported in the last EC meeting, several RCs registered a very good participation of students at the regional level essay competitions in 2019.